DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Does Host Genetic Variation Influence Susceptibility to a Novel Pathogen?

论文研究：宿主遗传变异是否会影响对新型病原体的易感性？

• 批准号: 0407543
• 负责人: Andre Dhondt
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Cornell Univ - State: AWDS MADE PRIOR MAY 2010
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-07-01 至 2005-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0407543&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Does; Host; Genetic

To what extent genetic diversity increases resistance to disease is an important question that has rarely been examined in natural populations of animals. A debilitating bacterial pathogen recently colonized populations of house finches, Carpodacus mexicanus, that had reduced genetic variation, providing a rare opportunity to investigate how genetic diversity impacts disease resistance. The study by Dr. Andre Dhondt and Dana Hawley integrates field data, captive bird experiments, and molecular techniques to examine whether genetic diversity within or among house finch individuals predicts resistance to this novel pathogen. Furthermore, this study tests the potential physiological mechanisms underlying the relationship between genetic diversity and disease resistance.Results from this study are relevant both for understanding pathogen dynamics in social organisms and for conserving small, isolated animal populations that often harbor low levels of genetic diversity. As worldwide agricultural traffic and habitat destruction intensify, pathogen colonization of vulnerable hosts will become increasingly common, with potentially devastating consequences. Broader impacts of this study also include extensive research participation by undergraduates and the dissemination of results to members of Cornell's Laboratory of Ornithology and the public at large.

遗传多样性在多大程度上提高了对疾病的抵抗力是一个重要的问题，但很少在动物的自然种群中进行研究。 一种使人衰弱的细菌病原体最近在家雀（Carpodacus mexicanus）种群中定植，这种病原体减少了遗传变异，为研究遗传多样性如何影响抗病性提供了难得的机会。 Andre Dhondt 博士和 Dana Hawley 博士的研究整合了现场数据、圈养鸟类实验和分子技术，以检查家雀个体内部或之间的遗传多样性是否可以预测对这种新型病原体的抵抗力。 此外，这项研究还测试了遗传多样性与抗病性之间关系的潜在生理机制。这项研究的结果对于了解社会生物体中的病原体动态以及保护通常具有低水平遗传多样性的小型、孤立的动物种群都很重要。 随着全球农业运输和栖息地破坏的加剧，脆弱宿主的病原体定植将变得越来越普遍，并可能带来毁灭性的后果。 这项研究的更广泛影响还包括本科生的广泛研究参与以及向康奈尔大学鸟类学实验室成员和广大公众传播研究结果。